I miss the old D&D of the 00's

[Quasqueton]

Date: October 2, 2025
Poster: Quasqueton's Son
Subject: I miss the old D&D

I'm sure I'm not the only old-timer here who sometimes yearns for the early 00's, when D&D was new, slick, and full-color. I remember when my dad gave me my first Player's Handbook---it looked like a real, leather-bound tome. I was so amazed by the interesting races and classes, the easy-to-use skills, and the cool feats. The illustrations were so evocative of adventure and adventurers.

I remember looking my dad's Dungeon Master's Guide and seeing all the really cool magic items. I so looked forward to one day trying draws from the deck of many things---that thing was just a bunch of campaign plots looking to happen. But, alas, I never got to find one. ;-)

I've been on a nostalgia trip lately, ever since finding my old PHB in boxes in my attic. The old D&D had soul and imagination. This new version of the game, with its bland black-and-white illustrations, cookie-cutter character classes, and terribly wordy and convoluted text is just souless compared to the D&D I started with back when I was 10 years old. I miss the simple and intuitive skill system, the greatly customizable feat trees, and the various options for combat rather than this current "I hack, he hacks, I hack, he hacks" method.

Am I just looking back on my childhood gaming through rose-colored glasses, or did the old D&D have something that this new version has lost?

Quasqueton's Son

 

[Krieg]

Methinks you should not have dropped your kid on his head as a child.

 

[shilsen]

Funny post, but seriously, I quite expect to see that attitude in 20 years time. And I'm sure there'll be some weird guy on whatever ENWorld has morphed into by then posting about how 3e is the only true edition Ecclesiastes 1:9.

 

[MDSnowman]

Funny post, but seriously, I quite expect to see that attitude in 20 years time. And I'm sure there'll be some weird guy on whatever ENWorld has morphed into by then posting about how 3e is the only true edition Ecclesiastes 1:9.

And the person saying these things will be diaglo's first born child.

 

[Crothian]

ACtually that will be seen all across the gamining industry. THere are a lot of high quality games out and coming out. Its a new golden age.

 

[Samothdm]

Made me laugh!

I wonder if, somewhere, someone is on a message board writing about the nostalgia he feels for 1st Edition Spawn of Fashan.

 

[Turjan]

Made me laugh!

I wonder if, somewhere, someone is on a message board writing about the nostalgia he feels for 1st Edition Spawn of Fashan.

I would not be surprised at all. I've already found a nostalgia post regarding "The World of Synnibar". It's this "fond memories of the first time" thing going on.

 

[Akrasia]

The 3.x versions of the game lack the quirks, idiosyncratic writing styles, and aesthetic/stylistic charms of 1st edition AD&D or Basic/Expert D&D. Hence 3.x will never generate the same amount of nostalgia as the early versions of D&D do (yes, there will be some nostalgia, but just not very much of it in comparison to O/AD&D).

I mean, you don't see much in the way of nostalgia for Dragonquest -- a very slick and well-done game in its time. The same goes, to a lesser extent, for 2nd edition AD&D. The reason: Dragonquest and 2nd edition AD&D lacked the charm and character of the 1st edition AD&D or basic/expert D&D rules. (Yes, there are many 2nd editions fans out there, but their numbers are dwarfed by those who have nostalgic feelings for 1st edition AD&D or basic/expert D&D.)

The same goes for 3.x. Technically, the system has many virtues that the earlier editions lack. It is also a much "slicker" product. But it simply lacks the (admittedly semi-professional and decidedly "unslick") charm and character of 1st edition AD&D and basic/expert D&D.

 

[Piratecat]

When nostalgia goes bad.

 

[Krieg]

I mean, you don't see much in the way of nostalgia for Dragonquest -- a very slick and well-done game in its time. The same goes, to a lesser extent, for 2nd edition AD&D. The reason: Dragonquest and 2nd edition AD&D lacked the charm and character of the 1st edition AD&D or basic/expert D&D rules. (Yes, there are many 2nd editions fans out there, but their numbers are dwarfed by those who have nostalgic feelings for 1st edition AD&D or basic/expert D&D.)

You are confusing popularity with charm/character.